How to Install 3 ½” Front Speakers in the Magnum *

[DMAG]

How to Install 3 ½” Front Speakers in the Magnum

Recommended 3 ½” Speakers include but are not limited to:
Boston Acoustic FX3 ( My choice)
Infinity Reference / Kappa
Advent 3.5”
Others 3 1/2" Premium Brand Speakers

Time: 1 Hour

Tools Needed
Towels – to lay on the padded dash and keep tools on
Stubby Phillips screwdriver
Flat bladed screwdriver
Wire Cutters
Wire Stripper & Crimper with small gauge (6-8/8-10) crimp connectors
Or
Portable soldering iron with shrink tubing

Disassembly Instructions (Please be sure radio/NAV system is TURNED OFF)

Remove left and right windshield (vertical) pillar covers.
These plastic covers are held in place via a slot at the bottom, a snap in middle, and a long plastic pin near the top. Remove it by grabbing the lip closest to the windshield and gently pulling it out at a 45-degree angle from the door jam. After it is loose, you will find a little more force is needed to complete remove the single snap pin/post nearest the roof. Once that is out, simply lift it up and away from the dash plastic panel.

Now you can gently pry up the dash black plastic (non-padded) dash cover that is located closest to the windshield. There are a number of small alignment tabs located at each edge, and across the middle. Very little force is needed to lift up and remove this piece. I placed mine upside down on the back seat until I was ready to re-install it.

With the under dash exposed, use the stubby Phillips screwdriver remove the 2 screws and lift the speaker straight up and place it on the towel. Repeat this for both sides.

Disconnect the white quick release speaker connectors and remove speakers. You will need to cut off the white speaker connector using the wire cutters. Be careful to not let the source side speaker wire fall back into the dash.

Cut back the black tape and expose 2”-3” of the source speaker wire.

Strip each wire ½” and connect to the new speakers wire via soldering with shrink tubing or by using crimp connectors. Note that the polarity +=+ and -=- must be maintained for your new speakers to work correctly.

Left Speaker Wire
+ Dark Green with Tan stripe
- Dark Green with gray stripe

Right Speaker Wire
+ Gray with Violet stripe
- Gray with Yellow stripe

Install the speakers into the dash. Test the sound for clarity. If it sounds weak, or distorted, double-check that your speakers are wired (polarity) correctly. Correct if needed.

Reinstall speakers, tighten screws, realign and install the plastic dash cover, and finally, install the vertical pillar covers.

Enjoy your new and improved audio performance!

[jasonr_01]

My magnum didn't come with the six speaker system will the wires for the dash speakers still be there and working even though there not used?

[CoolVanilla]

Everything went as planned as per the instructions above, but I noticed something I thought might help someone else out:

When the dash cover comes off, you'll notice there are several tabs that insert vertically into the sub dash plate. When I pulled mine, the metal clips that attach to the tabs actually came off and remained in the slots, in the sub dash plate. I didn't notice this initially and I reinstalled everything as normal. Well after a few days of crazy rattling up there, I took it apart again and discovered the clips thing; the dash was not seating into the slots because the clips were preventing it. I pulled the clips out of the sub dash, and reattached them to the tabs (they literally clip right back on). I then reinstalled the dash and got that solid click sound as each tab snapped into place. That completely took care of the rattle.

Sorry, I was so excited to see if this fixed the rattle, I completely forgot to take a pic or two.

[boggart]

Any responses to the question about speaker wiring being present on the non BA system? I really don't want to take the dash apart if there is no speaker wire there. Where would we tie in to if the wiring is not present?

Also, if the wiring is there, can't we just use the $3 wiring harness' to convert the stock wiring harness to the aftermarket speaker?

[Fred]

I am a fan of the speaker harnesses for that back to stock mental comfort.

[boggart]

ACTUAL WIRING FOR THIS INSTALL:

Front Left:
+ Grey/Violet Stripe
- Grey/Yellow Stripe

Front Right:
+ Dark Green/Violet Stripe
- Dark Green/Yellow Stripe

I'll throw in the rears too while I'm here

Left Rear:
+ Dark Green/Tan Stripe
- Dark Green/Grey Stripe

Right Rear:
+ Dark Green/Brown Stripe
- Yellow/Grey Stripe

Corrected info found in section 8W-47-4 of the service manual

[Rockadile]

Supplemental Wiring Guide:

I have the Boston Acoustic 6-speaker setup and I just got done the dash speakers. My left (driver) side was the same as above, but my right (passenger) side was different. Here's what I found:

Dash Left:
+ Grey/Violet Stripe
- Grey/Yellow Stripe

Dash Right:
+ Grey/Dark Green Stripe
- Grey/Light Green Stripe

[Red Zeppelin]

I was wondering if anyone knew about the question above - whether the wires exist in the dash spots in a 4 speaker system? I was considering adding them as well, but also don't want to tear into the dash just to find out I don't have the wiring there. Thanks.

[boggart]

They are not there on the 4 speaker system. But it is relatively easy to run the wire yourself and T-Tap into the door speaker wire just behind the head unit. That's what I did. Install the speakers, you won't be sorry you did.

[Red Zeppelin]

Will the stock head unit (i have the single cd option, though i am considering upgrading to the 6 changer) support the extra set of speakers? Do I need another amp or an upgrade? Sorry, I have lots of questions!

I am good with engines, and computers, but A/V in a car is not really my thing! Willing to try though....

[boggart]

It will work just fine. That is exactly what I did. Big, HUGE, improvement in sound by adding the 3.5's without adding an amp. Later I followed up by installing the 6 disc MP3 player, which has the exact same audio output as the single CD unit. (Not sure if all of this belongs in a KB thread, I apologize if not).

[stv9000]

Correct me if I am wrong here but buy T' ing off the door speakers aren't you connecting the dash speakers in parallel? Doing this will change the speakers impedance.

[boggart]

What you're saying is probably correct. But what choice do you have with a 4 speaker stereo? Regardless, I stand by my opinion that it sounds much better with the dash speakers added and splicing them off the door speakers.

[stv9000]

You run the risk of overheating the amp. There is much more current draw with 2 or more speakers in parallel. You would be dropping the impedance to 2 ohms. The head unit is designed for 4 ohms. It may work but I am going to try and come up with a different way.

[SKINNI]

The Original Setup Has The Door And Rear 6x9' S Runing On The Rear Channel And Dash 3.5' S On The Front Channel. Im Sure The 6x9' S Are 8 Ohm Speakers So If U Wire Them Together And Run The 3.5' S Alone On The Front Channelu Should Be Ok. I Would Verify This With A Professional But Im Sure This Is The Case